Players to watch

Andrew Dickey, Cape Elizabeth forward; Conor Moloney, Cape Elizabeth forward; Stefano Mancini, Falmouth guard; Ryan Rogers, Falmouth guard; Cameron Kaubris, Mountain Valley guard; Jacob Arsenault, Mountain Valley guard; Sam Johnston, Greely guard; Trevor Tierney, Greely forward; David Clough, Maranacook forward; Ben Johnson, Maranacook center; Andrew Feltis, Lincoln Academy guard; Ethan Wajer, Lincoln Academy guard; Jason Gorman, York center; Jared Prugar, York forward; Anthony Kennedy, Lake Region guard; Matt Langadas, Lake Region guard.

Favorite

The regular-season finale between Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth may have decided the top seed, but it didn’t change the fact that the WMC’s two top teams are the region’s co-favorites. Cape won the top spot with a 48-45 victory and handed the Yachtsmen their only loss of the season. The Capers don’t have much size, but the two-time defending champions are balanced and have great leadership in Dickey and Moloney. Falmouth has arguably the best player in the tournament in Mancini and revenge in mind, not just for their only loss this year but for being knocked out in last year’s regional final by the Capers. A rematch appears to be on the horizon.

Darkhorse

Mountain Valley normally thrives in the darkhorse role as the MVC’s lone wolf in the bracket, and emerging from a Class C conference unbeaten always sets the Falcons up with a healthy chip on their shoulder heading into the tournament. Their depth and fast-paced offense are tailor-made for the bigger courts at the Portland Expo and Cumberland County Civic Center, but getting used to the shooting backgrounds in those bigger buildings can take some time. If the Falcons find the range quickly, they have the firepower to maintain the 74 ppg pace they set during the regular season.

You need to know

It has been 21 years since the last time a team that wasn’t either Mountain Valley or representing what is now the Western Maine Conference won Western B. Lincoln Academy did it in 1989.